New York, Dec 13: The flu outbreak sweeping United States has forced authorities to close down some schools even as officials warned the disease may reach epidemic proportions if not controlled. People queued up outside hospitals to get themselves vaccinated against the disease, but the medicines were reportedly in short supply with two major manufacturers running out of stock.
The disease was widespread in 24 states though cases had been reported from all the 50 states, officials said.
It has not reached an epidemic proportion yet but it could soon be, chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Bill Shaffner was quoted as saying.
More than 20 children under the age of 18 have so far died during this year's outbreak, the Center for Disease Control said.
Some schools had to be closed after a large number of children got sick to save healthy ones from catching the virus, officials said.
Flu kills about 36,000 people in the United States every year and experts fear the toll to be higher year.
Some 25 per cent of viruses found so far were the Panama strain of influenza A, which was contained in the vaccine, but about 75 per cent were of the Fujian strain of influenza A, which was not covered by the vaccine, CDC reported.
The lab studies have shown the vaccine for the Panama strain was cross-reactive with the Fujian strain but "the level of protection remains uncertain until vaccine effectiveness studies are completed," it said. Bureau Report